The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2025
Filed:
May. 03, 2022
Stmicroelectronics Ltd, Kowloon, HK;
Stmicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&d Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, CN;
Benoit Rivot, Bessy, FR;
Xingyu Wang, Shenzhen, CN;
STMicroelectronics (Shenzhen) R&D Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, CN;
STMICROELECTRONICS LTD., Kowloon, HK;
Abstract
Cliff Detection in Robotic Devices A method of operating a robotic device includes: moving the robotic device towards an edge of a cliff while a ToF sensor senses reflected signals having been transmitted by the ToF sensor, the reflected signals being generated by the signals transmitted by the ToF sensor being reflected off a target object back to the ToF sensor, the ToF sensor being attached to a front of the robotic device and including an array of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensors; comparing a statistical distribution of the reflected signals received at a plurality of different rows of zones configured by the array of SPADs in a region of interest (ROI) of the ToF sensor and based on the comparing detecting an approaching of the edge of the cliff; and in response to detecting the approaching of the edge, changing a propulsion of the robotic device before reaching the edge.